Helmut Kentler - Revision history

Prue at 23:53, 28 August 2025

2025-08-28T23:53:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:53, 28 August 2025
Line 72:		Line 72:
	*"Friedrich Johannsen, Dean of the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Hanover from 2005 to 2009, emphasized in his memorial speech after Kentler's death: "His concept of youth work aimed at the autonomy of people and a better society."<ref>Dr. Teresa Nentwig 2019 report (translated), p. 117.</ref>		*"Friedrich Johannsen, Dean of the Philosophical Faculty of the University of Hanover from 2005 to 2009, emphasized in his memorial speech after Kentler's death: "His concept of youth work aimed at the autonomy of people and a better society."<ref>Dr. Teresa Nentwig 2019 report (translated), p. 117.</ref>
	*Some protestant church authorities expressed a similar opinion. In an obituary, the Study Centre for Protestant Youth Work pointed out Kentler's controversial positions, but also acknowledged his work for "institutional structure and professional socialisation" and the attempts to make homosexuality socially acceptable in the church.		*Some protestant church authorities expressed a similar opinion. In an obituary, the Study Centre for Protestant Youth Work pointed out Kentler's controversial positions, but also acknowledged his work for "institutional structure and professional socialisation" and the attempts to make homosexuality socially acceptable in the church.
	*The Humanist Union pays positive tribute to Kentler's person and body of work. In his obituary it says: ''"A lighthouse of our advisory board has gone out. Like no other, Helmut Kentler embodied the humanistic task of an enlightened sex education, and he was also a role model for public science. ''(...)'' His habitus combined the qualities of competence, authenticity and closeness in a rare way, with which Kentler impressed his readers and listeners alike ... Since he immediately aroused sympathies, many have confided in him."''<ref name=Lautmann>[~~http~~://www.humanistische-union.de/publikationen/mitteilungen/~~hefte/nummer/nummer_detail/back/mitteilungen-202/article~~/nachruf-auf-helmut-kentler/ Rudiger Lautmann - Obit for Humanistische Union]</ref>		*The Humanist Union pays positive tribute to Kentler's person and body of work. In his obituary it says: ''"A lighthouse of our advisory board has gone out. Like no other, Helmut Kentler embodied the humanistic task of an enlightened sex education, and he was also a role model for public science. ''(...)'' His habitus combined the qualities of competence, authenticity and closeness in a rare way, with which Kentler impressed his readers and listeners alike ... Since he immediately aroused sympathies, many have confided in him."''<ref name=Lautmann>[https://www-humanistische--union-de.translate.goog/publikationen/mitteilungen/publikation/nachruf-auf-helmut-kentler/?_x_tr_sl=auto&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en-US&_x_tr_pto=wapp Rudiger Lautmann - Obit for Humanistische Union]</ref>
	*In 2008, the (German) Journal for Sexual Research, the organ of the DGfS, published an obituary for Helmut Kentler that resembled a eulogy. On six pages, [[Rudiger Lautmann]] and the sociologist Elisabeth Tuider praise him as one of the "significant figures in sexual science in the last third of the 20th century."<ref>Dr. Teresa Nentwig 2019 report (translated), p. 150.</ref>		*In 2008, the (German) Journal for Sexual Research, the organ of the DGfS, published an obituary for Helmut Kentler that resembled a eulogy. On six pages, [[Rudiger Lautmann]] and the sociologist Elisabeth Tuider praise him as one of the "significant figures in sexual science in the last third of the 20th century."<ref>Dr. Teresa Nentwig 2019 report (translated), p. 150.</ref>

Prue at 23:52, 28 August 2025

2025-08-28T23:52:56Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:52, 28 August 2025
Line 91:		Line 91:
	::3. the onset of sexual activity among adolescents was brought forward significantly (in years of life: from 20 to 15).		::3. the onset of sexual activity among adolescents was brought forward significantly (in years of life: from 20 to 15).

	<blockquote>''All of this was now considered harmless and useful. The underlying value was freedom.''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''All of this was now considered harmless and useful. The underlying value was freedom.''</blockquote><ref name=Lautmann />

	==See also==		==See also==

Prue: /* Personal Life, Death, and Retrospective */

2025-08-28T23:51:52Z

Personal Life, Death, and Retrospective

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:51, 28 August 2025
Line 77:		Line 77:
	==Personal Life, Death, and Retrospective==		==Personal Life, Death, and Retrospective==

	Helmut Kentler died of natural causes on July 9, 2008, at the age of 80. He passed away in Hanover, Germany. Rudiger Lautmann's obituary tells us some details about Kentler's personal life, and offers a positive retrospective on changes is sexual values that Kentler welcomed. Lautmann writes:		Helmut Kentler died of natural causes on July 9, 2008, at the age of 80. He passed away in Hanover, Germany. [[Rudiger Lautmann]]'s obituary tells us some details about Kentler's personal life, and offers a positive retrospective on changes is sexual values that Kentler welcomed. Lautmann writes:

	<blockquote>''Little is known about Kentler’s private life. His annual New Year’s Eve newsletters (“Dear friends and good acquaintances”) expressed his satisfaction even when his health problems increased. The unmarried single father with three adopted sons led a remarkable special existence […] He really enjoyed being with the parents of mentally handicapped children – at seminars in the Josefstal study center. In retirement, he organized a small residential home for severely handicapped children (“probably the most meaningful thing I do”, 2001), gave tutoring lessons in the neighborhood and was involved in many practical activities – apparently as a constitutive part of a fulfilled life. “How many wonderful things I have experienced” [...]''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''Little is known about Kentler’s private life. His annual New Year’s Eve newsletters (“Dear friends and good acquaintances”) expressed his satisfaction even when his health problems increased. The unmarried single father with three adopted sons led a remarkable special existence […] He really enjoyed being with the parents of mentally handicapped children – at seminars in the Josefstal study center. In retirement, he organized a small residential home for severely handicapped children (“probably the most meaningful thing I do”, 2001), gave tutoring lessons in the neighborhood and was involved in many practical activities – apparently as a constitutive part of a fulfilled life. “How many wonderful things I have experienced” [...]''</blockquote>
Line 85:		Line 85:
	<blockquote>''[S]ex education is still fighting for its place in the curriculum of general schools and teacher training; and “enlightenment” is no longer highly valued. However, Kentler has seen his original goals fully realized:''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''[S]ex education is still fighting for its place in the curriculum of general schools and teacher training; and “enlightenment” is no longer highly valued. However, Kentler has seen his original goals fully realized:''</blockquote>

	1. the sexual regulation emphasizes individual needs (instead of predetermined limits of religious-moral origin);		::1. the sexual regulation emphasizes individual needs (instead of predetermined limits of religious-moral origin);

	2. Adults are allowed to do whatever they agree on;		::2. Adults are allowed to do whatever they agree on;

	3. the onset of sexual activity among adolescents was brought forward significantly (in years of life: from 20 to 15).		::3. the onset of sexual activity among adolescents was brought forward significantly (in years of life: from 20 to 15).

	<blockquote>''All of this was now considered harmless and useful. The underlying value was freedom.''</blockquote>		<blockquote>''All of this was now considered harmless and useful. The underlying value was freedom.''</blockquote>

Prue at 23:50, 28 August 2025

2025-08-28T23:50:29Z

@@ Line 59: / Line 59: @@
 Kentler's study was again publicly debated in 2015, when the Senate Youth Administration commissioned the ''political scientist'' Teresa Nentwig from the University of Göttingen to investigate it and forward her findings to the relevant authorities. Predictably, the Berlin ''Senator for Education'' Sandra Scheeres called the "experiment" at that time a "crime in state responsibility". In 2017/18, Nentwig was further commissioned in Lower Saxony to research the "effects" of Kentler's activities. Nentwig did not dismiss the possibility that Kentler himself was involved in the "abuse", despite there being no evidence or accusers. Hannover University then disowned any credit to Kentler's research after a series of politically-motivated investigations. At this point, a representative of the far-right AfD party contacted one of the participants in the study and a lawsuit against the State of Berlin was drawn up involving two former boys. According to the ''New Yorker'', for around two years, the AfD made political capital out of this at their events. On 15 June 2020, a report prepared by social scientists entitled "Helmut Kentler's Work in Berlin Child and Youth Services" was presented in Berlin. The Berlin Senator for Education Sandra Scheeres promised those effected by the "abuse" financial compensation by the State of Berlin.<ref name="morgen">[https://www.morgenpost.de/berlin/article229319400/Berlin-entschaedigt-Missbrauchsopfer.html Berlin Morning Post: Berlin entschädigt Missbrauchsopfer]</ref> The men accepted this compensation.
-==Praise==
+==Praise for Helmut Kentler==
 ===University staff who worked under Kentler===
@@ Line 74: / Line 74: @@
 *The Humanist Union pays positive tribute to Kentler's person and body of work. In his obituary it says: ''"A lighthouse of our advisory board has gone out. Like no other, Helmut Kentler embodied the humanistic task of an enlightened sex education, and he was also a role model for public science. ''(...)'' His habitus combined the qualities of competence, authenticity and closeness in a rare way, with which Kentler impressed his readers and listeners alike ... Since he immediately aroused sympathies, many have confided in him."''<ref name=Lautmann>[http://www.humanistische-union.de/publikationen/mitteilungen/hefte/nummer/nummer_detail/back/mitteilungen-202/article/nachruf-auf-helmut-kentler/ Rudiger Lautmann - Obit for Humanistische Union]</ref>
 *In 2008, the (German) Journal for Sexual Research, the organ of the DGfS, published an obituary for Helmut Kentler that resembled a eulogy. On six pages, [[Rudiger Lautmann]] and the sociologist Elisabeth Tuider praise him as one of the "significant figures in sexual science in the last third of the 20th century."<ref>Dr. Teresa Nentwig 2019 report (translated), p. 150.</ref>
 ==See also==

Prue: /* The University supports its professor */

2025-08-28T23:37:38Z

The University supports its professor

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:37, 28 August 2025
Line 51:		Line 51:
	At the time, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Hanover supported Kentler. At its meeting on 10 November 1993, four days after the incident, it passed a statement defending its member: "The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences", the statement began, notes "with dismay" that "its member Prof. Kentler, in representing his professional views as an expert on [[Research:_Youth_sexuality\|childhood sexuality]], has been personally vilified, anonymously threatened and even physically attacked." The statement concludes: "The faculty stands by its colleague Prof. Kentler. It opposes behavior that destroys controversial scientific discussions by creating a hostile climate without communication."		At the time, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Hanover supported Kentler. At its meeting on 10 November 1993, four days after the incident, it passed a statement defending its member: "The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences", the statement began, notes "with dismay" that "its member Prof. Kentler, in representing his professional views as an expert on [[Research:_Youth_sexuality\|childhood sexuality]], has been personally vilified, anonymously threatened and even physically attacked." The statement concludes: "The faculty stands by its colleague Prof. Kentler. It opposes behavior that destroys controversial scientific discussions by creating a hostile climate without communication."

	A short time later, in January 1994, the "Science-Practice Forum: Sexual Abuse - Evaluation of Practice and Research" organized by [[Katharina Rutschky]] and [[Reinhart Wolff]] took place in Berlin, ~~which~~ had to take place under police protection. The conference contributions were published in the same year in the anthology "Handbook of Sexual Abuse," for which Helmut Kentler wrote the essay "Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse." In February 1994, Kentler's cancelled lecture was once again the subject of the faculty meeting: It was announced that it would be repeated. "The faculty," the minutes of the relevant meeting continue, "asks Professor [Joachim] Perels to represent them at the event." This gesture - the presence of the highest-ranking representative of the faculty at the planned lecture - can be interpreted as the faculty once again supporting their colleague.<ref>The above "Harassment" section uses information freely adapted, including quotations, from an English language machine translation of Dr. Teresa Nentwig's 2019 publicly available research report on Kentler.</ref>		A short time later, in January 1994, the ''"Science-Practice Forum: Sexual Abuse - Evaluation of Practice and Research"'' event organized by [[Katharina Rutschky]] and prof. [[Reinhart Wolff]] took place in Berlin. This event was successful, but had to take place under police protection. The conference contributions were published in the same year, in the anthology "Handbook of Sexual Abuse," for which Helmut Kentler wrote the essay ''"Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse."'' In February 1994, Kentler's cancelled lecture was once again the subject of the faculty meeting: It was announced that it would be repeated. "The faculty," the minutes of the relevant meeting continue, "asks Professor [Joachim] Perels to represent them at the event." This gesture - the presence of the highest-ranking representative of the faculty at the planned lecture - can be interpreted as the faculty once again supporting their colleague.<ref>The above "Harassment" section uses information freely adapted, including quotations, from an English language machine translation of Dr. Teresa Nentwig's 2019 publicly available research report on Kentler.</ref>

	Due to the journalistic work by Ursula Enders, Kentler was prevented from receiving the Magnus Hirschfeld Prize in 1997 "at the last minute". Kentler had already began the process of retiring in 1996.		Due to the journalistic work by Ursula Enders, Kentler was prevented from receiving the Magnus Hirschfeld Prize in 1997 "at the last minute". Kentler, however, had already began the process of retiring the previous year, in 1996.

	===In the internet era===		===In the internet era===

Prue: /* The "Abuse of sexual abuse" lecture scandal */

2025-08-28T23:34:46Z

The "Abuse of sexual abuse" lecture scandal

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:34, 28 August 2025
Line 43:		Line 43:
	===The "Abuse of sexual abuse" lecture scandal===		===The "Abuse of sexual abuse" lecture scandal===

	On the evening of November 6, 1993, shortly before the Kentler was set to lecture on the "Abuse of Sexual Abuse" at the Protestant Technical School for Social and Special Education in Hanover, he was on his way to the toilet when a young man - according to ~~his~~ retrospective account - jumped up to him with the words: "You pig, you sow, you child molester!!!" and punched him on his right cheekbone. An acquaintance immediately intervened, and it was later discovered that the attacker was a local student who had taken quotes from Kentler's books and distributed them to visitors in front of the building. Kentler, who later described the quotes as "all falsified," decided not to press charges because he was convinced that this would "hardly help" the young man, and instead suggested a meeting in what would now be labelled an example of restorative justice. This meeting took place that same year, but the young man is said to have shown little insight.		On the evening of November 6, 1993, shortly before the Kentler was set to lecture on the "Abuse of Sexual Abuse" at the Protestant Technical School for Social and Special Education in Hanover, he was on his way to the toilet when a young man - according to Kentler's retrospective account - jumped up to him with the words: "You pig, you sow, you child molester!!!" and punched him on his right cheekbone. An acquaintance immediately intervened, and it was later discovered that the attacker was a local student who had taken quotes from Kentler's books and distributed them to visitors in front of the building. Kentler, who later described the quotes as "all falsified," decided not to press charges because he was convinced that this would "hardly help" the young man, and instead suggested a meeting in what would now be labelled an example of restorative justice. This meeting took place that same year, but the young man is said to have shown little insight...

	Kentler wanted to give his lecture despite the attack and, according to his description, among the 200 to 250 people present were "around 20 women" who "wanted to overturn" the event. Fueled largely by the [[Feminism\|feminist]] magazine ''Emma'' which had condemned ~~him around this time~~, ~~Kentler~~ suggested to these twenty or so heckling women that they select two or three of them for a panel discussion with him. They rejected this, and after one of the "wild women," as Kentler called them, addressed his friend as "you asshole," he told them: "my patience and goodwill are exhausted," ~~leaving~~ the event. Kentler characterized these women's actions as “against the background of a conservative, anti-sexual, anti-pleasure, anti-child attitude” that “is more rigid than anything I encountered in the 1960s and 1970s.” Kentler's failed lecture was finally published under the title "On the Abuse of Sexual Abuse" in the journal of the professional association of social workers and social educators. The groups to which his critics belonged were to receive copies; in addition, the association, which was "entirely" behind Kentler, wanted to invite them to a discussion event at the end of January 1994 at Kentler's suggestion. This event did not happen.		Kentler still wanted to give his lecture despite the attack and, according to his description, among the 200 to 250 people present were "around 20 women" who "wanted to overturn" the event. Fueled largely by the self-identified [[Feminism\|feminist]] magazine ''Emma'' which had recently condemned Kentler, he suggested to these twenty or so heckling women that they select two or three of them for a panel discussion with him. They rejected this, and after one of the "wild women," as Kentler called them, addressed his friend as "you asshole," he told them: "my patience and goodwill are exhausted" and left the event. Kentler characterized these women's actions as “against the background of a conservative, anti-sexual, anti-pleasure, anti-child attitude” that “is more rigid than anything I encountered in the 1960s and 1970s.” Kentler's failed lecture was finally published under the title "On the Abuse of Sexual Abuse," in the journal of the professional association of social workers and social educators. The groups to which his critics belonged were to receive copies; in addition, the association, which was "entirely" behind Kentler, wanted to invite them to a discussion event at the end of January 1994 at Kentler's suggestion. This event did not happen.

	===The University supports its professor===		===The University supports its professor===

Prue: /* Intergenerational sex */

2025-08-28T23:30:30Z

Intergenerational sex

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:30, 28 August 2025
Line 19:		Line 19:
	====Intergenerational sex====		====Intergenerational sex====

	In Kentler's view, it was not enough for parents to avoid putting obstacles in the way of their children's sexual desires; rather, parents should introduce their children to sexuality, because otherwise they "risk leaving them sexually underdeveloped, becoming sexual cripples".<ref>''"Parents learn sexual education"'', S. 32</ref> Early sexual experiences were viewed positively as promoting sexual health, practical education, and an ethos and culture of freedom. It was believed that teenagers in sexual relationships, for example, were more likely to embrace an emancipatory ideology and "more often reject the norms of adults".<ref>H. Kentler: ''"Sex education"''. 1970, p. 179</ref> Kentler held a common view amongst academics prior to the 1980s, that the intervention of police, psychiatrists and legal proceedings when a consensual but unlawful relationship was discovered, is generally more harmful than the illicit sexual activity itself. Known in professional literature as iatrogenic harm or secondary harm, Kentler warned parents: "The wrong thing to do now would be for parents to lose their nerve, panic and run straight to the police. If the adult had been considerate and tender, the child could even have enjoyed sexual contact with him".<ref>''Parents learn sexual education'', pp. 103 f.</ref> "If such relationships are not discriminated against by the environment, then the more the older one feels responsible for the younger one, the more positive consequences for personality development can be expected", he wrote in 1974 ~~in his~~ foreword to the controversial sex education book, [[Zeig mal!]]<ref>''Zeig mal!'' Wuppertal 1974, foreword</ref> (En: "Show Me!", documented in full at BoyWiki.<ref>[https://www.boywiki.org/en/Show_Me!_(book) BoyWiki: Show Me!, including foreword by Helmut Kentler]</ref>)		In Kentler's view, it was not enough for parents to avoid putting obstacles in the way of their children's sexual desires; rather, parents should introduce their children to sexuality, because otherwise they "risk leaving them sexually underdeveloped, becoming sexual cripples".<ref>''"Parents learn sexual education"'', S. 32</ref> Early sexual experiences were viewed positively as promoting sexual health, practical education, and an ethos and culture of freedom. It was believed that teenagers in sexual relationships, for example, were more likely to embrace an emancipatory ideology and "more often reject the norms of adults".<ref>H. Kentler: ''"Sex education"''. 1970, p. 179</ref> Kentler held a common view amongst academics prior to the 1980s, that the intervention of police, psychiatrists and legal proceedings when a consensual but unlawful relationship was discovered, is generally more harmful than the illicit sexual activity itself.<ref>E.g. [[Peter_Schult#cite_note-10\|Prof. Reinhart Lempp (1978)]], [[John_Gagnon#cite_note-6\|Gagnon and Simon (1970)]], [[LeRoy G. Schultz]], [[Alfred Kinsey]] ''et al.'', amongst many other specialists covered on this site.</ref> Known in professional literature as [[Research:_Secondary_Harm\|iatrogenic harm or secondary harm]], Kentler warned parents: "The wrong thing to do now would be for parents to lose their nerve, panic and run straight to the police. If the adult had been considerate and tender, the child could even have enjoyed sexual contact with him".<ref>''Parents learn sexual education'', pp. 103 f.</ref> "If such relationships are not discriminated against by the environment, then the more the older one feels responsible for the younger one, the more positive consequences for personality development can be expected", Kentler wrote in his 1974 foreword to the controversial sex education book, [[Zeig mal!]]<ref>''Zeig mal!'' Wuppertal 1974, foreword</ref> (En: "Show Me!", documented in full at BoyWiki.<ref>[https://www.boywiki.org/en/Show_Me!_(book) BoyWiki: Show Me!, including foreword by Helmut Kentler]</ref>)

	Some sources such as the ''New Yorker'' claim that Kentler disowned his views on intergenerational sex in the early ~~90s~~ following the suicide of an adoptive son he was said to have claimed was abused by his birth mother. It was unclear to what extent this would have been political (at the time, moral panic was at its highest in Germany), but ~~his~~ 1999 opinion on pederasty above appears to conflict with this, as does [[Rudiger Lautmann]]'s obituary.<ref name=Lautmann /> The worst of the harassment against his legacy took place long after his withdrawal from the debate on intergenerational sexuality, and death.		Some sources such as the ''New Yorker'' claim that Kentler disowned his views on intergenerational sex in the early 1990s, following the suicide of an adoptive son he was said to have claimed was abused by his birth mother. It was unclear to what extent this would have been political (at the time, moral panic was at its highest in Germany), but Kentler's 1999 opinion on pederasty above appears to conflict with this, as does [[Rudiger Lautmann]]'s obituary.<ref name=Lautmann /> The worst of the harassment against his legacy took place long after his withdrawal from the debate on intergenerational sexuality, and death.

	==Famous study==		==Famous study==

Prue at 23:24, 28 August 2025

2025-08-28T23:24:10Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:24, 28 August 2025
Line 4:		Line 4:
	Kentler was for a period, a high-profile courtroom expert in the "Squealer Assassin" mold of American defense experts [[Ralph Underwager]] and [[Elizabeth Loftus]]. Indeed, in 1999, he had planned an (as yet) unpublished book on this topic, in which he details 35 cases in which he believed strongly that the accused were innocent.<ref name=Lautmann />		Kentler was for a period, a high-profile courtroom expert in the "Squealer Assassin" mold of American defense experts [[Ralph Underwager]] and [[Elizabeth Loftus]]. Indeed, in 1999, he had planned an (as yet) unpublished book on this topic, in which he details 35 cases in which he believed strongly that the accused were innocent.<ref name=Lautmann />

	Since his death, Kentler's work has been defamed in a campaign of posthumous and political/opportunistic [[Systemic Sexual Harassment\|systemic legacy harassment]]. A number of highly sensational media hit pieces, laden with ~~emotionalism~~ and capitalized upon by right wing ('''[[Wikipedia:Alternative for Germany\|AfD]]''') political interests have ensued. Two men have since testified against Kentler after receiving legal aid from the party, and were handsomely compensated by the State of Berlin as a result.<ref>[https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2021-04-29-berlin--victims-of-the-%22kentler-experiment%22-are-compensated.ry76qhG_Du.html Teller Report: Compensation Award]</ref>		Since his death, Kentler's work has been defamed in a campaign of posthumous and political/opportunistic [[Systemic Sexual Harassment\|systemic legacy harassment]]. A number of highly sensational media hit pieces, laden with emotive language and capitalized upon by right wing ('''[[Wikipedia:Alternative for Germany\|AfD]]''') political interests have ensued. Two men have since testified against Kentler after receiving legal aid from the party, and were handsomely compensated by the State of Berlin as a result.<ref>[https://www.tellerreport.com/life/2021-04-29-berlin--victims-of-the-%22kentler-experiment%22-are-compensated.ry76qhG_Du.html Teller Report: Compensation Award]</ref>

	==Emancipatory ideology==		==Emancipatory ideology==

	For Helmut Kentler, theory and practice were tightly knit throughout his life. He developed a theory of emancipatory youth work via his work with adolescents and young adults as a student, and the five years he spent working in church educational institutions. ~~He implemented group pedagogy and team work, as trusting and respectful cooperation between educators with different professional competence, and attempted to gain insight into~~ the ~~psychological and social connection between learning and emancipation~~. ~~During the~~ student riots in Berlin, Kentler was temporarily active as a "psychological consultant for police issues".<ref>[https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-46369507.html Spiegel - Feind im Innern]</ref> The sexual liberation movement of Berlin students in communities and shared flats, resulted in his advocacy of an emancipatory sexual education in the home,<ref>''Parents learn sexual education'', Rowohlt, 1975</ref>. Advocating for sex education to be taught in the home was not uncommon in the 1970s,<ref>For example, see Dr. William A. Block, ''For Kids Only: Illustrated Family Sex Album'' (Trenton, N.J.: Prep Publications, 1979). Described as "Dr. Block's do-it-yourself Illustrated Human Sexuality Book for Kids"(!)</ref> and this ideological trend was reflected in ~~his~~ dissertation ~~in 1975~~, which earned him credence as an expert in sex education for the rest of his professional ~~life~~. Kentler also occasionally ~~makes~~ reference to influential sexual liberation theorists of the time, such as Wilhelm Reich and Herbert Marcuse.<ref>Herbert MARCUSE: Liberation of Sexuality. In: Helmut Kentler (ed.): ''Sexualwesen Mensch. Texte zur Erforschung der Sexualitat'' (Munich: Piper 1988) pp. 222-233; ''Show Me!'' discusses Reich.</ref>		For Helmut Kentler, theory and practice were tightly knit throughout his life. He developed a theory of emancipatory youth work via his work with adolescents and young adults as a student, and the five years he spent working in church educational institutions. During the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West_German_student_movement 1968 student riots in Berlin], Kentler was temporarily active as a "psychological consultant for police issues".<ref>[https://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-46369507.html Spiegel - Feind im Innern]</ref> The sexual liberation movement of Berlin students in communities and shared flats, resulted in his advocacy of an emancipatory sexual education in the home,<ref>''Parents learn sexual education'', Rowohlt, 1975</ref>. Advocating for sex education to be taught in the home was not uncommon in the 1970s,<ref>For example, see Dr. William A. Block, ''For Kids Only: Illustrated Family Sex Album'' (Trenton, N.J.: Prep Publications, 1979). Described as "Dr. Block's do-it-yourself Illustrated Human Sexuality Book for Kids"(!)</ref> and this ideological trend was reflected in Kentler's 1975 dissertation, which earned him credence as an expert in sex education for the rest of his professional career. Kentler's writings also occasionally make reference to influential sexual liberation theorists of the time, such as Wilhelm Reich and Herbert Marcuse.<ref>Herbert MARCUSE: Liberation of Sexuality. In: Helmut Kentler (ed.): ''Sexualwesen Mensch. Texte zur Erforschung der Sexualitat'' (Munich: Piper 1988) pp. 222-233; ''Show Me!'' discusses Reich.</ref>

	===View of [[pederasty]]===		===View of [[pederasty]]===

	<blockquote>[...] ''~~I have ''[...]'' in the vast majority of cases made the experience that pederastic~~ conditions can have a very positive effect on the personality development of a boy, especially if the pederast is a real mentor of the boy.'' (Helmut Kentler, 1999)</blockquote>		<blockquote>[...] ''Pederastic conditions can have a very positive effect on the personality development of a boy, especially if the pederast is a real mentor of the boy.'' (Helmut Kentler, 1999)</blockquote>

	<blockquote>''In 1981, Kentler was invited to the German parliament to speak about why homosexuality should be ~~decriminalized—it didn’t~~ happen for thirteen more ~~years—but~~ he strayed, unprompted, into a discussion of his experiment. “We looked after and advised these relationships very intensively,” he said. He held consultations with the foster fathers and their sons, many of whom had been so neglected that they had never learned to read or write. “These people only put up with these feeble-minded boys because they were in love with them,” he told the lawmakers.'' (from the ''New Yorker'')</blockquote>		<blockquote>''In 1981, Kentler was invited to the German parliament to speak about why homosexuality should be decriminalized — it didn't happen for thirteen more years — but he strayed, unprompted, into a discussion of his experiment. “We looked after and advised these relationships very intensively,” he said. He held consultations with the foster fathers and their sons, many of whom had been so neglected that they had never learned to read or write. “These people only put up with these feeble-minded boys because they were in love with them,” he told the lawmakers.'' (from the ''New Yorker'')</blockquote>
	[[File:Kentlerbook.png\|thumb\|left\|250px\|Cover of Helmut Kentler’s Book Eltern Lernen Sexual-Erziehung (Parents Learn Sexual-Education), depicting parents bathing naked with their young children. Image credit: Amazon.com]]		[[File:Kentlerbook.png\|thumb\|left\|250px\|Cover of Helmut Kentler’s Book Eltern Lernen Sexual-Erziehung (Parents Learn Sexual-Education), depicting parents bathing naked with their young children. Image credit: Amazon.com]]

	====Intergenerational sex====		====Intergenerational sex====

	In Kentler's view, it was not enough for parents to avoid putting obstacles in the way of their children's sexual desires; rather, parents should introduce their children to sexuality, because otherwise they "risk leaving them sexually underdeveloped, becoming sexual cripples".<ref>''"Parents learn sexual education"'', S. 32</ref> Early experiences ~~of coitus are useful~~, ~~because teenagers with coitus experience "demand~~ an ~~independent world~~ of teenagers and more often reject the norms of adults".<ref>H. Kentler: ''"Sex education"''. 1970, p. 179</ref> Kentler warned ~~the~~ parents ~~against being concerned over rape or molestation of children by adults~~: "The wrong thing to do now would be for parents to lose their nerve, panic and run straight to the police. If the adult had been considerate and tender, the child could even have enjoyed sexual contact with him".<ref>''Parents learn sexual education'', pp. 103 f.</ref> "If such relationships are not discriminated against by the environment, then the more the older one feels responsible for the younger one, the more positive consequences for personality development can be expected", he wrote in 1974 in his foreword to the controversial sex education book, [[Zeig mal!]]<ref>''Zeig mal!'' Wuppertal 1974, foreword</ref> (En: "Show Me!", documented in full at BoyWiki.<ref>[https://www.boywiki.org/en/Show_Me!_(book) BoyWiki: Show Me!, including foreword by Helmut Kentler]</ref>)		In Kentler's view, it was not enough for parents to avoid putting obstacles in the way of their children's sexual desires; rather, parents should introduce their children to sexuality, because otherwise they "risk leaving them sexually underdeveloped, becoming sexual cripples".<ref>''"Parents learn sexual education"'', S. 32</ref> Early sexual experiences were viewed positively as promoting sexual health, practical education, and an ethos and culture of freedom. It was believed that teenagers in sexual relationships, for example, were more likely to embrace an emancipatory ideology and "more often reject the norms of adults".<ref>H. Kentler: ''"Sex education"''. 1970, p. 179</ref> Kentler held a common view amongst academics prior to the 1980s, that the intervention of police, psychiatrists and legal proceedings when a consensual but unlawful relationship was discovered, is generally more harmful than the illicit sexual activity itself. Known in professional literature as iatrogenic harm or secondary harm, Kentler warned parents: "The wrong thing to do now would be for parents to lose their nerve, panic and run straight to the police. If the adult had been considerate and tender, the child could even have enjoyed sexual contact with him".<ref>''Parents learn sexual education'', pp. 103 f.</ref> "If such relationships are not discriminated against by the environment, then the more the older one feels responsible for the younger one, the more positive consequences for personality development can be expected", he wrote in 1974 in his foreword to the controversial sex education book, [[Zeig mal!]]<ref>''Zeig mal!'' Wuppertal 1974, foreword</ref> (En: "Show Me!", documented in full at BoyWiki.<ref>[https://www.boywiki.org/en/Show_Me!_(book) BoyWiki: Show Me!, including foreword by Helmut Kentler]</ref>)

	Some sources such as the ''New Yorker'' claim that Kentler disowned his views on intergenerational sex in the early 90s following the suicide of an adoptive son he was said to have claimed was abused by his birth mother. It was unclear to what extent this would have been political (at the time, moral panic was at its highest in Germany), but his 1999 opinion on pederasty above appears to conflict with this, as does [[Rudiger Lautmann]]'s obituary.<ref name=Lautmann /> The worst of the harassment against his legacy took place long after his withdrawal from the debate on intergenerational sexuality, and death.		Some sources such as the ''New Yorker'' claim that Kentler disowned his views on intergenerational sex in the early 90s following the suicide of an adoptive son he was said to have claimed was abused by his birth mother. It was unclear to what extent this would have been political (at the time, moral panic was at its highest in Germany), but his 1999 opinion on pederasty above appears to conflict with this, as does [[Rudiger Lautmann]]'s obituary.<ref name=Lautmann /> The worst of the harassment against his legacy took place long after his withdrawal from the debate on intergenerational sexuality, and death.

The Admins: change titles, duplicate reference

2024-09-04T22:55:45Z

change titles, duplicate reference

Show changes

Prue: /* The University Supports its Professor */

2024-09-02T01:02:13Z

The University Supports its Professor

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:02, 2 September 2024
Line 44:		Line 44:

	=The University Supports its Professor=		=The University Supports its Professor=
	At the time, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Hanover supported Kentler. At its meeting on 10 November 1993, four days after the incident, it passed a statement defending its member: "The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences", the statement began, notes "with dismay" that "its member Prof. Kentler, in representing his professional views as an expert on childhood sexuality, has been personally vilified, anonymously threatened and even physically attacked." The statement concludes: "The faculty stands by its colleague Prof. Kentler. It opposes behavior that destroys controversial scientific discussions by creating a hostile climate without communication."		At the time, the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Hanover supported Kentler. At its meeting on 10 November 1993, four days after the incident, it passed a statement defending its member: "The Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences", the statement began, notes "with dismay" that "its member Prof. Kentler, in representing his professional views as an expert on [[Research:_Youth_sexuality\|childhood sexuality]], has been personally vilified, anonymously threatened and even physically attacked." The statement concludes: "The faculty stands by its colleague Prof. Kentler. It opposes behavior that destroys controversial scientific discussions by creating a hostile climate without communication."

	A short time later, in January 1994, the "Science-Practice Forum: Sexual Abuse - Evaluation of Practice and Research" organized by [[Katharina Rutschky]] and [[Reinhart Wolff]] took place in Berlin, which had to take place under police protection. The conference contributions were published in the same year in the anthology "Handbook of Sexual Abuse," for which Helmut Kentler wrote the essay "Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse." In February 1994, Kentler's cancelled lecture was once again the subject of the faculty meeting: It was announced that it would be repeated. "The faculty," the minutes of the relevant meeting continue, "asks Professor [Joachim] Perels to represent them at the event." This gesture - the presence of the highest-ranking representative of the faculty at the planned lecture - can be interpreted as the faculty once again supporting their colleague.<ref>The above "Harassment" section uses information freely adapted, including quotations, from an English language machine translation of Dr. Teresa Nentwig's 2019 publicly available research report on Kentler.</ref>		A short time later, in January 1994, the "Science-Practice Forum: Sexual Abuse - Evaluation of Practice and Research" organized by [[Katharina Rutschky]] and [[Reinhart Wolff]] took place in Berlin, which had to take place under police protection. The conference contributions were published in the same year in the anthology "Handbook of Sexual Abuse," for which Helmut Kentler wrote the essay "Perpetrators of Sexual Abuse." In February 1994, Kentler's cancelled lecture was once again the subject of the faculty meeting: It was announced that it would be repeated. "The faculty," the minutes of the relevant meeting continue, "asks Professor [Joachim] Perels to represent them at the event." This gesture - the presence of the highest-ranking representative of the faculty at the planned lecture - can be interpreted as the faculty once again supporting their colleague.<ref>The above "Harassment" section uses information freely adapted, including quotations, from an English language machine translation of Dr. Teresa Nentwig's 2019 publicly available research report on Kentler.</ref>